Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism’s cross party support

1971: P.E. Trudeau announces multiculturalism as an official federal government policy

^^1982: section 27 of Constitution Act^^: « This Charter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians » (bound to respect it)

1988: Mulroney (conservative PM) passes the Canadian Multicultural Act (statute)

^^Support for both the idea and implementation + civil support^^

Background 50-60s: immigration reform

Pre 50s: ==Overt or indirect discrimination== on basis of race, ethnicity, national origin (selects immigrant on certain background aka whiteness)

==PC 1911-1324 : preferred barring African American immigrants== because « unsuitable to the climate and requirements of Canada »

==Reform==: 1960 ==Bill of rights=== applied to actions of the federal government (not for provinces) → cannot discriminate on basis of race, national origin, Colour, religion, sex…

Changing the basis of immigration → PC 1962-82 ==skills>race== + PC 1967-1616 ==Points system== (if you check n amount of boxes especially concerning economic skills)

After 1971= demographic in terms of national origin shifts (2011 mainly Asian, African and south-American immigration)

Background; Bilingualism and Biculturalism commission (1963-69)

%%B&B royal commission =struck to counter growing sovereignty movement%%

Chief commissioners: André Laurendeau (Le Devoir) + David Dunton (CBC)

Key recommendations: %%official bilingualism%%, minority language education, %%promote cultural diversity%%

Multiculturalism policy (MCP) 1971

Trudeau’s response to the B&B: @@2 official languages but no official culture aka rejection of biculturalism@@

Fed gov will assist in: continue to develop capacity to grow and contribute to Canada, overcome barriers to full participation, promote creative encounters and interchange, acquire at least one official language

@@About linguistic and economic integration not cultural assimilation@@

Stole et. Al 2016: explaining Canadian support for MCPs

Dépendant variable= support for MCPs ($ or space)

Respondent characteristics, beneficiary cultural distance and respondent assimilationist values will impact it.

__Interaction effect: effect of one variable on another relies on a third one__ → here respondent assimilationist values has said effect (v1 and v2 being the remaining ones)

Assimilationist values

Calculated on how much does one respondent agree with those:

$Too many recent immigrants just dont want to fit in$

$Recent immigrants should set aside their cultural background and blend into Canada$

$Speaking French and/or English should be a p requisite to immigration$